A 32-year-old prison inmate testified in court yesterday about how he always remembered his father beating up his mother - but his mother later told the court that she was forgiving her husband for the latest case, which allegedly took place last March.

The husband, 55 of Kalkara, is accused of seriously injuring his wife on March 22 at 2 a.m. at their home, causing her a permanent injury, threatening her with a metal pipe and relapsing.

In his testimony, the couple's son, who is in prison, gave evidence about the character of his father.

He said that he remembered an incident a number of years ago when he protected his mother from his father's beating. He said he was physically on top of his mother when his father stabbed him in the leg, having been meaning to stab his mother. He showed the scar to Magistrate Antonio Mizzi.

He said he remembered life at home as being difficult, because there was always a lot of fighting and arguing. His father, he said, had thrown him out of the house because he thought he had called the police after a similar incident.

Asked by defence lawyer Reno Borg whether this fighting involved both his father and mother, the witness replied that these were cases of his father beating up his mother.

At the end of his testimony the witness said that he had heard that somebody might set fire to his car, which is currently used by his wife because he is in prison. He expressed concern for her safety. Dr Borg said he would speak to his clients to make sure that nothing happened.

Taking the witness stand, the prisoner's mother said she did not want to testify - as is her right.

Asked by Magistrate Mizzi whether she had gone to the health centre following the incident in March, she said she did, but added that she had been taken there and had not actually wanted to go.

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